[Bipolar Artist Husb]

Sex, Drugs, Cigarettes, Gambling, Insomnia, Shopping, working to many hours, spring cleaning, packing things and unpacking things, Go go go, obsessing about all of these.
Crashing, depression, distancing from everyone, hiding away somewhere, thoughts of suicide, hopelessness, tired, claustrophobia, irritable, anxiety, feeling like a failure, feeling like a freak.
These are extremes of two moods that my BP husband feels. Is it any wonder why when he feels down he looks for ways to get the extreme euphoria he normally feels when he's up? Not that there are any great rewards to this method.
Maybe this also explains how a marriage can be hard to maintain. This could also explain how an artist, poet, writer, magician, actor, scientist, composer ect can be such an amazing achiever. We look at these Great Greats in the world with love awe and admiration yet we reject them in marriage, and friendship due to the volatility of their mood swings. Can we stop thinking it’s all about us and realize their minds work differently? It’s hard to not take it personally. It’s difficult to watch them self destruct. They need love and support maybe more than most of us do. They live for those moments of praise love and worship. A book that helped me is the Four Agreements. I’ve mentioned this before and I’ll say it again. It’s an amazing Book!

Hello,Bipolar Artist Husb. How is your son doing?

[salukigirl]

That was very profound and beautifully put. You really do make it sound that, we shouldn't dread someone's disorder but, rather, embrace it. Learn how those things can make a person amazing yet difficult and love them for it. Its really hard for some people to see the simply beauty in things and I'm glad you can articulate it so beautifully. While some struggle their whole lives to keep emotions out, people with bipolar experience those and then some. Personally, sometimes I would rather go off the meds and be depressed so I can feel something, anything.

[NuckingFutz]

I guess the bottom line is; is the glass half empty or half full. Sounds like the bipolar in your life has forgone treatment so he can apply his moods to his artistic endeavors - a choice only the afflicted can make. If you are going along for the ride, strap yourself in and build up a strong support network. And come here as often as you need to.